From HERE:
[...] The Assyrians, an ancient ethnic group going back to biblical times, are predominantly Christian, being divided between the Syriac Orthodox Church (in whose tradition my own Church is rooted), the Assyrian Church of the East, the Chaldean Catholic Church, and several smaller Protestant groups. Since the rise of Islam, they have had a precarious existence, but perhaps never more so than now. It is estimated that 40% of those fleeing Iraq at this time are Assyrian Christians, even though they make up less than five percent of the Iraqi population. So let us read about them, pray for them, and, if so led, contact our government to advocate for them. It would seem entirely clear that U.S. policy in Iraq must take into account the wellbeing of the Assyrian people.
Abu Daoud says: note that the various Assyrian churches are Oriental Orthodox (non-Chalcedonian) and Catholic (Chaldean Catholic). There was also a division way back about who should be the patriarch if I remember correctly, which resulted in the split between two of the Assyrian churches. Finally, we should remember that like many Christians in the Middle East (Armenians, Copts) these groups form an ethnic minority and are not Arabs, even though Arabic has become their daily language.
Also note that one of the Assyrian Churches dates back to the Council of Ephesus and is thus connected to the Nestorian controversy. Complicated stuff...
